The Troilus and Cressida play is set in Troy, a city in Anatolia, which is now in Turkey. The action takes place in the city and in the Greek camp outside the city walls. It is set around 5000 BC. Read more about Troilus & Cressida settings.

Troilus and Cressida themes: Ignorance and self deception are the main themes of the play. Characters are unable to learn from experience and repeat their mistakes. They are mainly shallow and although great heroes in mythology, they follow the false gods of fame and glory but remain narrow-minded and small personally. Their problems arise entirely from fighting a major war for no real reason. The theme of appearance and reality is manifested in the beauty and seemingly charming personalities of the women and the handsome and seemingly mighty warriors being inwardly ugly, shallow, weak, and in some cases, mad.